Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, the leaders of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), have been remanded in police custody until next Tuesday, after a state prosecutor opposed bail in court on Friday.

WOZA says one of the leaders Mahlangu is in pain after she was beaten when police used violence to break up a peaceful demonstration by the group on Thursday.

WOZA spokesperson Annie Sibanda said: "Obviously she hasn't been given access to medical treatment. She has been in police cells sleeping on concrete floors. She is in pain."

The Zimbabwe Exiles Forum and the Southern African Centre for Survivors of Torture have condemned the arrests and called for the immediate release of the two activists. The groups said the arrests violate the spirit of negotiations taking place in Zimbabwe and highlight what appears to be a deliberate targeting of women activists by the Zanu PF authorities. "More often than not, women are subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment in detention in Zimbabwe. Torture and human rights abuses continue to take place and cast a shadow of doubt over the workability of the Harare deal," a joint statement by the groups said.

The two activists were arrested in Bulawayo during a WOZA demonstration protesting the extreme hardships being suffered by Zimbabweans. More than 200 activists converged at a government complex demanding to be heard by the heads of service delivery, about what is being done to address the humanitarian crisis that is affecting millions of Zimbabweans.

However the riot police used force to disperse the peaceful protesters and some women were arrested before the demonstration even began. They were later released. Only Williams and Mahlangu remain in custody and are being charged under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, for allegedly disturbing the peace.

WOZA said a state prosecutor had initially agreed with the defence lawyer, Kossam Ncube, that the state would not oppose bail and the amount and conditions were actually settled. However it is reported that on entering the court room, the defence lawyer was informed that a new prosecutor, a Mr Chifamba, was taking over the case.

"Chifamba argued that the two should be denied bail because there was still an outstanding case pending, referring to the May 28 arrest," said a WOZA statement.

Williams, Mahlangu and 12 other activists had been arrested in May, as they have been on numerous occasions, for exercising their right to demonstrate against the deplorable conditions in Zimbabwe. WOZA says the May 28th matter was no longer pending and the 14 activists had been removed off remand by a Harare Magistrate.

However the court in Bulawayo decided to allow the state time to verify this fact and remanded the two leaders in custody.

The statement said: "Although disappointed by the ruling, the two are determined to remain positive, even though Mahlangu is in pain from the beating she received outside Mhlalandlela."